Police hit rat run drivers with fines

Caught in the act – police pull over a motorist for flouting the one-way system in Cross Street and Prospect Hill

POLICE are hitting crooked motorists in the wallet for flouting the one-way system in Eastcott and putting fellow drivers, pedestrians and other vehicles in danger.

Swindon Council closed Crombey Street between Regent Circus and Eastcott Hill on Monday, March 24, as a part of the ongoing development of the former Swindon College site.

As a result, it is diverting traffic south along Victoria Road up to Bath Road, before sending it north down Eastcott Road to rejoin Crombey Street.

In an attempt to cut journey times, drivers have been breaking the law and driving against oncoming traffic by turning right from Cross Street into Rolleston Street and Edmund Street.

Wiltshire Police’s Swindon Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team has responded to calls from residents in the area to address the problem and issued four fixed penalty notices amounting to £50 apiece on Wednesday.

PC Paul Bezzant said: “We have patrols as part of our team at key times to provide a visible presence to deter the drivers.

“We had a period of stopping them and trying to educate them, but we have now moved on to enforcement.

“When we stop the motorists we educate them, issue the ticket and check the vehicle over, as we usually do, to ensure it is road safe and road legal.

“We will continue to police this area until the problem stops.”

The closure in Crombey Street will be lifted on May 9, though police hope motorists will learn this illegal cut-through is the wrong choice to make long before then.

A variety of excuses have been offered up to police pulling them over, though the majority are simply playing dumb, despite the large road markings and road signs telling drivers the way to go.

“Human beings try to be lazy, they try to take the shortest or easiest route possible and this is another example of that,” said PC Bezzant.

“It is quite clear, as you approach the junction at the end of Cross Street, there are markings on the street and big signs showing drivers which way to go – it is just laziness.

“They always try to find excuses. It’s been a mixture of holding their hands up and trying to tell us they honestly didn’t notice the signs. “A lot of the time, as you’re writing out the fines, they have got nothing to say.”

A meeting was held after the Adver went to press last night with the council, residents and the police coming together to discuss the current, official diversion and what might be done to appease drivers and reduce the number of motorists flouting the system.

“In reality there’s very little that can be done,” said PC Bezzant. “It’s a short-term inconvenience for a long-term gain at Regent Circus.

Comments (11)

It's amazing the level of detail the Adver has on stories which occur in or around the Beehive pub isn't it? The further you get away, the more sketchy the articles tend to get.
Oh and without wishing to condone lawbreaking, people aren't lazy, they are just fed up of the consistent hold ups to their lives caused by roadworks, developments etc. It doesn't excuse it but it does explain it. If Swindon's roads were fit for purpose, the odd roadworks wouldn't cause chaos would they.

It's amazing the level of detail the Adver has on stories which occur in or around the Beehive pub isn't it? The further you get away, the more sketchy the articles tend to get.
Oh and without wishing to condone lawbreaking, people aren't lazy, they are just fed up of the consistent hold ups to their lives caused by roadworks, developments etc. It doesn't excuse it but it does explain it. If Swindon's roads were fit for purpose, the odd roadworks wouldn't cause chaos would they.Wildwestener

There is a blocked side street off Commercial road by Allen and Harris why not open that for a few weeks. It wouldn't cost much and improve the situation. It seems logical to me, but maybe beyond the thoughts of the authorities.

There is a blocked side street off Commercial road by Allen and Harris why not open that for a few weeks. It wouldn't cost much and improve the situation. It seems logical to me, but maybe beyond the thoughts of the authorities.Lofty!

At last, lost count of the amount of times cars have beeped at me crossing that road because they were going the wrong way.
It is exactly laziness, its a word that comes up more and more Swindon is obese because?

At last, lost count of the amount of times cars have beeped at me crossing that road because they were going the wrong way.
It is exactly laziness, its a word that comes up more and more Swindon is obese because?Badgersgetabadname

Wildwestener wrote:
It's amazing the level of detail the Adver has on stories which occur in or around the Beehive pub isn't it? The further you get away, the more sketchy the articles tend to get.
Oh and without wishing to condone lawbreaking, people aren't lazy, they are just fed up of the consistent hold ups to their lives caused by roadworks, developments etc. It doesn't excuse it but it does explain it. If Swindon's roads were fit for purpose, the odd roadworks wouldn't cause chaos would they.

Were you one of those caught?
Its always someone else`s fault if you are aware of these issues leave earlier as others do walk, get the bus use a bike the list goes on but still boils down to lazy and selfish.

[quote][p][bold]Wildwestener[/bold] wrote:
It's amazing the level of detail the Adver has on stories which occur in or around the Beehive pub isn't it? The further you get away, the more sketchy the articles tend to get.
Oh and without wishing to condone lawbreaking, people aren't lazy, they are just fed up of the consistent hold ups to their lives caused by roadworks, developments etc. It doesn't excuse it but it does explain it. If Swindon's roads were fit for purpose, the odd roadworks wouldn't cause chaos would they.[/p][/quote]Were you one of those caught?
Its always someone else`s fault if you are aware of these issues leave earlier as others do walk, get the bus use a bike the list goes on but still boils down to lazy and selfish.Badgersgetabadname

Hammer5 wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature

So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?

[quote][p][bold]Hammer5[/bold] wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature[/p][/quote]So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?Badgersgetabadname

Only a £50 fixed penalty fine.... These are deliberate acts, not something done by mistake.

Don't these incidents consist of dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention or wreckless driving all of which carry much harsher penalties?

More easy soft options from the police.....!

Only a £50 fixed penalty fine.... These are deliberate acts, not something done by mistake.
Don't these incidents consist of dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention or wreckless driving all of which carry much harsher penalties?
More easy soft options from the police.....!LordAshOfTheBrake

Lofty! wrote:
There is a blocked side street off Commercial road by Allen and Harris why not open that for a few weeks. It wouldn't cost much and improve the situation. It seems logical to me, but maybe beyond the thoughts of the authorities.

this would solve the problem come on developers at the old college put this in place

[quote][p][bold]Lofty![/bold] wrote:
There is a blocked side street off Commercial road by Allen and Harris why not open that for a few weeks. It wouldn't cost much and improve the situation. It seems logical to me, but maybe beyond the thoughts of the authorities.[/p][/quote]this would solve the problem come on developers at the old college put this in placegambon

Hammer5 wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature

So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?

If you was to mug me id deal with you myself not let you go to court for a £100 fine simple as that!!!
The higher chance of not getting caught people will be tempted and commit an illegal act I only have to refer you to the recent riots where the police lost control and what you witnessed was human behaviour and temptation at its worst!!!
When there are no speed cameras or police on the road people speed so looks like you lose badger game SETT and match goodnight hahaha

[quote][p][bold]Badgersgetabadname[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Hammer5[/bold] wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature[/p][/quote]So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?[/p][/quote]If you was to mug me id deal with you myself not let you go to court for a £100 fine simple as that!!!
The higher chance of not getting caught people will be tempted and commit an illegal act I only have to refer you to the recent riots where the police lost control and what you witnessed was human behaviour and temptation at its worst!!!
When there are no speed cameras or police on the road people speed so looks like you lose badger game SETT and match goodnight hahahaHammer5

Hammer5 wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature

So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?

If you was to mug me id deal with you myself not let you go to court for a £100 fine simple as that!!!
The higher chance of not getting caught people will be tempted and commit an illegal act I only have to refer you to the recent riots where the police lost control and what you witnessed was human behaviour and temptation at its worst!!!
When there are no speed cameras or police on the road people speed so looks like you lose badger game SETT and match goodnight hahaha

1.22AM someone was on the lemonade last night???

Wooo you are a tough man,,,,,Sounds like you handle yourself on a regular basis.
Its never one on one anymore it will be a gang that attack and mug you they are cowards and come from behind or from the dark either way sweetie no you dont deal with it.
If it is the London riots you are referring to I can see what you mean but there were police there quite allot of them to be fair, either way the question was would you blame me or the police you said you will "deal" with it yourself does that mean you would of been out defending car phone warehouse etc...from looters?
Are you called Hammer because you are so tough?

[quote][p][bold]Hammer5[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Badgersgetabadname[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Hammer5[/bold] wrote:
Hey the worlds changing and peoples attitudes are changing which means the less police you put on the roads the more violations will take place .... Its human nature[/p][/quote]So is a higher chance of not getting caught a reason to commit an illegal act?
If I was to mug you, you would blame the police and not me?[/p][/quote]If you was to mug me id deal with you myself not let you go to court for a £100 fine simple as that!!!
The higher chance of not getting caught people will be tempted and commit an illegal act I only have to refer you to the recent riots where the police lost control and what you witnessed was human behaviour and temptation at its worst!!!
When there are no speed cameras or police on the road people speed so looks like you lose badger game SETT and match goodnight hahaha[/p][/quote]1.22AM someone was on the lemonade last night???
Wooo you are a tough man,,,,,Sounds like you handle yourself on a regular basis.
Its never one on one anymore it will be a gang that attack and mug you they are cowards and come from behind or from the dark either way sweetie no you dont deal with it.
If it is the London riots you are referring to I can see what you mean but there were police there quite allot of them to be fair, either way the question was would you blame me or the police you said you will "deal" with it yourself does that mean you would of been out defending car phone warehouse etc...from looters?
Are you called Hammer because you are so tough?Badgersgetabadname